Speech Therapist

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in speech and language pathology
• New Mexico Public Education Department Licensure for Speech/Language Pathologist
• New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department Licensure
• Medicaid Provider Number
• NPI number
• Bilingual preferred

Skills/Aptitudes:

• Good organizational ability; good written and oral communication skills; ability to maintain high level of professionalism and confidentiality regarding students, staff, parents, and school matters.
• Knowledge of IDEA B eligibility criteria and their effects on sensory, motor, psychosocial, and cognitive development of students with disabilities;
• Knowledge of local, federal, and state regulations and procedures pertaining to the provision of speech and language services in the school setting;
• Knowledge of major theories, treatment procedures, and research relevant to providing speech and language services for children with disabilities;

Essential Job Responsibilities of Speech Therapist:

• Works cooperatively with colleagues, supervisors, and administrators.
• Demonstrates ethical behavior.
• Follows district policies and administrative rules and regulations and federal and state statutes.
• Follows District Code of Conduct policies.
• Maintains behavior appropriate to performing and accomplishing assigned duties.
• Maintains a suitable personal appearance as it relates to position.
• Demonstrates foresight, examines issues, and takes initiatives to improve the quality of education in the community.
• Embraces and encourages the acceptance of diversity.
• Keeps monthly service log for every child on caseload and submits to Student Services on designated deadline each month.
• Uses effective and respectful skills to communicate.
• Provides and maintains an environment where optimal student growth can take place.
• Demonstrates leadership.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the dynamics of the educational organization.
• Effectively manages the resource for which he/she is responsible.
• Conducts assessment of students referred through the evaluation process.
• Participates in the program planning for individual students.
• Provides intervention for student’s identified as needing service by the IEP/EDT team.
• Demonstrates effective time management skills.
• Demonstrates professional competencies.
• Ability to select, administer, and interpret appropriate assessment instruments, and procedures taking into consideration the student’s age, development level, disability, and educational needs.
• Ability to assess the functional performance of all students regardless of disabilities within the school environment.
• Ability to engage in consensus decision making as a member of the IEP/EDT team.
• Ability to plan and implement intervention strategies using direct therapy, monitoring, and consultation.
• Ability to communicate effectively (orally and in writing) with education personnel, administrators, parents, and community members.
• Ability to document assessment and intervention results in the proper manner for a school setting and to relate this information to the educational goals of the student.
• Ability to develop, implement, evaluate, and modify according to a speech and language therapy program within a school setting.
• Serves as a resource to all school staff members in the development of a balanced program for oral communication and speech improvement.
• Assists and guides all teachers in observing, describing, and referring suspected and identified speech and language impairments.
• Provides a thorough assessment and diagnosis of speech, voice, and language impairments for all initial evaluations and re-evaluations.
• Provides screening to identify children with speech and language disorders at regular intervals and at specified levels.
• Assists in proper referrals of individuals to agencies and specialists in the community.
• Provides appropriate individualized programs of therapy to meet individual students’ needs in correcting existing speech or language disorders.
• Collaborates with classroom teachers and other school staff members to implement therapy by suggestions for the student’s daily activities.
• Provides information, and support to parents and families when appropriate.
• Attends workshops and in-services to stay abreast of changes in standards, assessment strategies, and research findings.
• Performs other job duties as assigned.